Steve Bruce seeking the cash from Sunderland to ensure an encounter with Miroslav Klose

13 May 2011 01:19

ShareSunderland are leading the chase among Barclays Premier League clubs for Germany international Miroslav Klose.

The 32-year-old Bayern Munich striker is available on a free transfer and will have a stream offers from across the continent as numerous clubs scramble to raise his current ?120,000-a-week wages.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce knows that although the former Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen striker is available for nothing, owner Ellis Short will not smash his wage structure to add Klose to his squad.

But it is a measure of Sunderland's ambition, and Bruce's desperation tospend the Darren Bent transfer money wisely that he has made the first enquiries to Bayern and Klose's representatives.

Klose would prefer a move to London if he is to finish his career in England, but Sportsmail understands no clubs from capital are interested.

Back in Germany, Klose's first club Hamburg and Werder Bremen, are among the rivals for Klose's signature, while Sevilla, Valenica and several Turkish clubs are also interested.

With Bent gone, Danny Welbeck due to return to Manchester United after his loan spell and Fraizer Campbell out for the season, Bruce needs forwards urgently this summer.

He would like to re-sign Welbeck on loan, but faces competition from Everton and Bolton, and has been linked with Roman Pavlyuchenko and Lorient's Kevin Gameiro.Bayern, meanwhile, are 'cautiously optimistic' of signing Manuel Neuer from Schalke for ?23m by the end of the month.

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